Campaigners have hit out at 'Pony painting parties' which they say are a 'cruel' new trend.

The parties, happening across the country, involve youngsters painting designs onto ponies with special chalk-based paint.

From writing their own names or putting painted hand-prints on the animals, to covering them with hearts and stars, ponies and horses are used as a blank canvas for kids' designs.

Those behind such parties say it's harmless fun and the painting is often done as therapy, helping children at centres offering riding for disabled people.

But not everyone is happy with the idea.

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While campaigners are petitioning to get what they describe as the 'disturbing trend' banned, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA UK, says parents need to be reminded that ponies and horses 'aren't party props'.

Sophie Tomlinson, from Altrincham, Cheshire, launched a petition on change.org, which has surpassed its 7,500-signature target in just three days and is quickly heading for 10,000, the Manchester Evening News reports.

She said: "Pony painting parties are a disturbing trend popping up all over the UK.

"Imagine being tied up amidst shrieking laughter, unpredictable touching and having strangers smear your hair in paint. Would you trade places?

"This is happening all over the country to horses right now and we need to take a stand. How would you feel about strangers smearing paint on your pet?"

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Her petition followed a scathing Facebook post from fellow campaigner Joe Callister, who shared photos of one such party and said: "It teaches us to objectify and use. It teaches us that if human animals are being made to feel happy, we can disregard the non-human animals. It's disgusting, disrespectful and unjust."

His post has since been shared hundreds of times and received almost 2,000 comments, with the majority in agreement.

Jacqui Martin said: "Strikes me kids should be taught the proper place for drawing is on paper not on beautiful animals - are parents so unable to provide stimulating and exciting play and entertainment these days.

"Don’t know who is worse here parents for actually encouraging children to ‘paint a pony’ - or even think painting a pony is OK - or the owners of said ponies who allow their animals to be treated like this in order to make money."

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Helena Toohey described it as 'disgusting', adding: "Plus what sort of patents thinks this is OK. I would only every want my kids to see animals happy in there own surroundings. How can you justify telling your kids it's OK to colour in any animal. Sick."

While Laura Sampson said she doesn't 'see this as cruelty or abuse', she does believe it's ridiculous and disrespectful'.

She said: "My children love horses, they've spent a lot of time around them and my sister owns horses and my children would not be allowed to participate in this stupidity. Children should be taught to respect and care for animals."

But not everyone sees the harm in the painting, with some pointing out that equine centres and vet schools sometimes paint ligaments and skeletons on horses to show students more about how their bodies move.

Katie Enos said: "As a horse owner its clear the horse is in no way shape or form in danger or being abused.

"If the horse didn't like it, it wouldn't be stood so chilled and eating its haynet. It's not bleach for god sake and easily washed off with a sponge.

For all you know the kids could be practicing the body parts of a horse, I did as a child. I also painted a skeleton onto my horse for Haloween. There is much more to life then worrying about kids playing with ponies."

Georgia Coghlan said such a large animal would 'easily get away from something he doesn't like', while Madison Lewis said campaigners should focus their efforts on 'actual animal abuse going on'.

She said: "Yes this is wrong but if it's washable and doesn't stain and isn't toxic leave it be. Yes it's wrong and disrespectful in sprit. My dudes there are dogs, birds etc being starved, beat and poisoned."

She is well used to facing criticism, even receiving death threats in the past, but insists the paint is perfectly safe and the ponies come to no harm.

She said: "There are a lot of companies that do it and there's no harm to the animal. We don't just provide paints for the parties, a lot is for places offering therapy at rising centres for the disabled and it has a massive benefit.

"The paint is applied with a brush so it's exactly the same as grooming a horse. It doesn't go near their nose, mouth or eyes. It's all chalk-based and perfectly safe and washes out with warm water. It's not like the horses are being dyed forever."

Referring to her growing petition, Sophie added: "The petition started on Monday and is already up to almost 8,000 signatures.

There really is great resistance to seeing animals being used as chalkboards. But it's important to raise not just the moral and respect issues, but the danger of these parties expanding across the nation and putting children in close proximity to stressed animals.

"It'd be great to nip this one in the bud and urge respectful ways to entice children with animals and art, such as painting pictures of the ponies, gluing on little painting unicorn horns to the drawings, giving the pony a new unicorn name.

"There are millions other ways for the businesses to still make money and be responsible about what they are teaching and creating culturally."

Elisa Allen, director of animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA UK, said parents should not allow their kids to treat animals like colouring books.

She said: "The first lesson a child should be taught is the golden rule – to treat others as you would wish to be treated. So if children wouldn't like to be forced to stand still while someone painted and drew all over their bodies, it's wrong to subject ponies to the same treatment.

"Allowing kids to treat animals like colouring books is a lesson in insensitivity to which no thoughtful parents would expose their children.

"Ponies and horses aren't party props – they're intelligent, complex animals who should be appreciated for their natural beauty.

"They're also sensitive and easily spooked – a child might even be kicked by a stressed pony who has been forced into a party environment with loud music and excitable kids.

"Animal exploitation has no place at a children's party, and PETA urges parents to opt instead for cruelty-free activities – like finger painting or face painting."